Ever since I started stand up I've been recording the audio of all my sets, but now I think I want to make the leap up to video.
An obvious choice seems to be a Flip, but I'm worried about how it would record in the low light of a club and how it would look recording from the back of the room without a zoom.
Anyone have any experience with this or recommendations?
I have the camera equivalent of a pterodactyl that chisels frames onto the screen and tells me that's it's a living to an invisible camera whenever I open it up. I can tell what I'm doing wrong and right with that thing, so you don't need anything fancy at all. Scour craigslist and I'm sure that you can save a lot of money by not investing in newfangled camera technology.
I shouldn't be typing this. I should be asleep, but lack of sleep makes me think I know what I'm talking about, and that I have something to say.
Do whatever.
You should get a used camera off Craigslist. Just make sure you get to play with it a little bit before you buy it to make sure it works. Also, meet the person in a public place no matter what so you don't get robbed. If they're legit, they'll meet you at a gas station or store near their house.
Be careful if you get a camera that records to a hard drive because sometimes they save the files in a weird format that not all editing software will read.
If you want a new one, you could try woot.com if you're not urgently needing one. They sell one random tech related item a day for cheap. Sometimes they have cheap cameras.
As far as lighting goes, I find that most cameras will do fine if you're under any sort of stage lights with a darker room. If it is very poorly lit, then a nicer camera will help slightly, but it's going to look like you're in poor lighting either way.
I recently got a flip, and I have to say, for around $100 it's a hell of a deal. Couldn't be simpler to use or lighter.
I say get a flip (HD if you want to get fancy) and one of those pipe-cleaner-bendy little tripods so you can plop it on a table or the bar before doing your sets.
Bob LaRitchie, Brian's Friend
I wanted to get a Flip but opted for a $300 Everio since I wanted to film short videos. I've messed around with a Flip before and they're pretty awesome, I must say. Definitely perfect for just filming your sets. Can't vouch for the lighting, though, and if it's too far away, the audio could be a problem.
I have a flip. The only real problem I have with it is the audio. It sounds rather messy. It can't handle up close loud noises, so audience applause might cause minor distortion. It also can't catch far off quiet sounds, so not ideal for a large room if you speak quietly.
Originally Posted by John Santana
I got the HD Mino and I like it. It was on sale for $200 at the time. The only negatives are that if you want to film yourself it can be a problem framing it.
The Sony has a rotating lens. I may actually invest in that one because it is pretty cheap and uses the same memory as my camera. So if you have a Playstation or a cybershot it might be a good deal.
http://reviews.cnet.com/digital-camc...rColumnArea1.0
"Not the victory but the action. Not the goal but the game. In the deed the glory."
so what do you guys recommend for audio quality... I guess the flip doesn't have great audio recording...
http://everio.jvc.com/
This is what I mentioned I had earlier, and it's not too pricey. Got mine for $300. You can probably find something similar to this cheaper.
The Flip should pick up your audio fine if you don't film it from too far away... or too close.
I found an old television braodcasting camera works best for me. I think I look much better in black and white or sepia tones.
"Except for MJEH. He is an irredeemable fiend who should be locked up." - Alex Mac
R.I.P. Greg Giraldo 1965-2010
I like the flip too, for its ease of use and portability.
I don't think you'll really get good quality audio with any built in mic on a camcorder in a comedy club. Unless you want to find a camera with a line in for audio, and then you'll need more mics.
For under $200, go flip or go used camcorder.
I use an old Sony from about 4 or 5 years ago. It sounds fantastic and is not too huge.
Just a heads up since I mentioned it. There is a Wootoff going on right now at woot.com. Normally, they put up one item a day but during Woot-offs they put a new one up as soon as the previous one sells out. So if you're looking to impulse buy a camera, keep your eyes peeled cause there should be at least one if not several over the next 2-3 days.
I'm hoping to pick one up from Wootoff, I'm very impatient though...
I don't think you'll really get good quality audio with any built in mic on a camcorder in a comedy club
Made specifically for audiophiles for recording in clubs and other places. Do a Youtube
search for the device. The video quality sucks though.
http://www.amazon.com/Zoom-Q3-Handy-...9829414&sr=8-1
white folks ya'll do this...not in my hood!! In my hood we...(insert black reference)
I also use a Flip HD. I find the audio quality to be much better than most amateur videos I watch. Very listenable, very clear, and if I record from the back of the room, the mix of me and the audience is perfect. I wouldn't record a special with one, but for personal use or YouTube, it's perfect. The only downside is that it doesn't look so hot in dim lighting.
As for recording yourself (which I recommend -- all the YouTube videos I've seen with someone else taping are either shakey or too ADD on the zoom), get a cheap tripod. I grabbed one from Wal-Mart that compacts into a little travel bag about 12" long. With that in my hand and the Flip in my pocket, it's a very portable setup.
Use the comic's set before yours to frame your shot. Keep in mind the club's sign or logo, your height, how much you move around stage, and audience members' heads. Hit record as that comic wraps up, get in position to take the stage after the host introduces you, and head back to stop the recording when you get offstage. The excess can be edited out before you upload it.
Are you recording it for personal review later or for marketing? If your intention is the former, I'd go with the Flip crowd.
base on my research about these cheap, good camcorder for recording set went like this. if your looking for the best camcorder that can record video or sound. I highly recommend the HD Camcorder. it can provide realistic professional movies that compare to TV shows such as Discovery HD Channels “Planet Earth” or an inexpensive HD camcorder that can record very nice high definition digital movies, is smaller than a cigarette package and cost less the two hundred dollars.
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